New York Mets: Top Ten Most Embarrassing Moments in 2009

Throughout the baseball season, there have been more embarrassing moments than the common human can count.  Whether it has been offensively, defensively, coaching, or other means, the Mets have done their fair share of embarrassing themselves.

I decided to break it down into the top ten of the season to this point, but remember, there is plenty of season left to go for more.

10) Ken Takahashi

Explanation: The title explains it all.  Ken Takahashi was a joke in his brief time with the Mets.  I was at two straight Mets/Phillies games in which it came to a tough position with all of the Phillies’ lefties coming up, and Raul Ibanez hit a ball off of Takahashi that still hasn’t landed yet.  He shouldn’t be on a major league team.

9) Daniel Murphy in Left Field

Explanation: Talk about a failed experiment.  Daniel Murphy reminded the Mets about how painful it was to watch Todd Hundley patrol the grounds out there.  Thankfully, Murphy was able to adopt a new position in first base, and he seems to be doing well there.  It should be interesting to see what happens once Carlos Delgado returns, but Omir Santos has better odds of returning to the outfield than Murphy.

8) Oliver Perez

Explanation: The only positive thing that has happen with Perez this season was his haircut (just kidding).  He was the first Met to get a win at Citi Field, but besides that, he has been a complete flop.  The Mets were backed into a corner and needed to re-sign him, and he is not holding up his end of the bargain.  It would be nice to see him care more and be a little more concerned about his lack of control.  Note to Oliver: seven walks are not a normal part of the game.

7) Jerry Manuel’s Post-Game Talks

Explanation: My favorite has to have been after they lost a game against Los Angeles, and Manuel just talked over and over about the team funk that the Mets were in.  Jerry needs to be less concerned with endearing himself to the media and more concerned about the welfare of his team.  Now that they have finally strung a few wins together, the smiling may commence again.  Just make sure you are ready to make some decisions, hombre.

6) Luis Castillo and the Popup

Explanation: This was a painful incident, but Luis didn’t even seem to miss a beat because of it.  Yes, this loss hurt, but Castillo handled the mistake like a champion.  He didn’t dodge the media, and most importantly, he has responded with the bat.  He had an RBI single in the Mets' 4-0 win last night, and he is now batting .306.  Oh yeah, and he hasn’t dropped a popup since then either.

5) Omar Minaya’s Adam Rubin Scandal

Explanation: None needed. Just check out the conversation.

Omar Minaya: No, no, I’m not saying that.  All I’m saying was, that I know that when you wrote the reports, but I am saying, that in the past, you have, have lobby for a player, for a for a job…

Adam Rubin: If I were interested in working in player development somewhere in the major leagues at some point in my life, how did that impact this situation at all?

Omar Minaya: I said, because, when the reports came out, a lot of these things were cross…I said "Who’s writing these reports?" and I said well OK who’s writing the reports and in the back of my mind, Adam, you have told me you have told other people in the front office that you want to work for player development in the front office.

Adam Rubin: So what you’re alleging is that…the only conclusion I can draw from that is that you’re trying to allege that I tried to tear everyone down so that I could take their position. Is that what you’re saying?

Omar Minaya: Adam…

Adam Rubin: It seems pretty despicable to say that.

4) Ryan Church Misses Third Base

Explanation: This was a huge moment that hurt the Mets.  It is unbelievable to me that a major leaguer can do such a thing.  This would only happen in Met Land.  This was one of many things that happened to suggest that Church would be shipped out to greener pastures.  Atlanta ended up being the unlikely destination.

3) Tony Bernazard’s Incredible Hulk

Explanation: Well, here’s another one that doesn’t need much explanation.  Props go to Adam Rubin for breaking this story.  Tony B. apparently went nuclear on the Binghamton Mets and ripped his shirt off to prove a point.  He also reportedly had an encounter with Francisco Rodriguez.  Maybe he should change his name to Brian Bruney.  All we have to say to Bernazard is this: "NA NA NA NA! NA NA NA NA! HEY HEY HEY! GOODBYE!"

2) The Wilpon Boys

Explanation: They sure give James Dolan a run for his money.  This circus is very much reminiscing that which has gone on with the Knicks and Isaiah Thomas the last few years.  One problem ends, and a new problem begins.  The Wilpons continue to smile because they make money, but the fans are going to stop coming if they don’t start paying attention to their team.

1) Mets’ Untrustworthy Training Staff

Explanation: I am not saying that the injuries that the Mets have dealt with are their faults, but there is definitely some source of concern.  People around baseball agree that the Mets’ Medical Crew has definitely made its share of mistakes, and they may have worsened some player’s injuries.  Carlos Beltran didn’t trust them, and he got an MRI on his injured knee.  Just take a look and see how long he has been out.

Hopefully, the embarrassment is nearing its end and brighter days lie ahead.